In short: Below parIn full: Not a great experience. Took way too long to collect numbers and, unless you'd done the race before, it wasn't clear where this was; baggage drop wasn't properly supervised; the start was unclear and couldn't hear the race instructions from the man with the megaphone; long and cold queue for a t-shirt at the end. On the plus side the marshalls were very friendly and encouraging and the race attracts all standards of runners - and it's very easy to get to on public transport. With a bit more organisation this could be a really good race but at the moment it is more like a training run but with lots of other people. Date of review: May 11, 2014

In short: Very friendly but extremely testing raceIn full: My sixth time and each time I forget how challenging the hills are - especially the last one which seems to go on for miles. Great organisation and friendly marshalls - even if they don't tell the truth about the challenge ahead - halfway round they were saying 'you've done the worst'. No, we hadn'tDate of review: June 30, 2008

In short: A cold, windy, hilly struggle - but great to finishIn full: This was my fifth Watford Half and by far the hardest. I knew exactly what to expect but struggled all the way around and finished 15 minutes slower than last year. Still, it gives me a challenge for next year. Great organisationDate of review: February 4, 2008

In short: Excellent race, I hope it becomes an annual eventIn full: Well organised and friendly race and very well marshalled. We ran through the nice and not so nice bits of the Lee Valley - suburban streets and fly-tipped lanes and some interesting smells around the waste incinerator plant. The athletics stadium is a wonderful facility and the track finish was great - the running track surface really does make you want to do a sprint finish, it's just a shame that my legs were not really capable of doing one.Date of review: October 14, 2007

In short: Improves every yearIn full: A great race. Very friendly and helpful organisers and a tough traffic free 5 miler. A flat course except in the run up to the bridges and a pleasant run along the river. The tough bit is seeing the course stretching out in front of you. Chocolate brownies/muffins were a nice and welcome touch at the finish. Date of review: July 8, 2007

In short: Tough as ever but with added mudIn full: The last few times I've run this it's been warm or hot. Today it was cold and windy and, as it had rained a lot in the week before, it was muddy. This made a quick time difficult (that's my excuse) but it was great fun. This has become an annual race for me.Date of review: July 3, 2007

In short: Strangely tough, but very scenicIn full: A great way to see Oxford and the traffic free town centre was a welcome change to the usual pollution zone. A real mixture of runners with a fair few men dressed as women (what is it about Oxford?). The hot day made for a challenging race and running with a very sore ankle was not the wisest thing I've done but I am glad that I made the effort. The first water station was a bit of a disaster but on a 10k this is not too important. Being taken punting in the afternoon was a perfect recoveryDate of review: May 29, 2007

In short: Great race, despite the cold and windIn full: My birthday, and what better way to spend it than freezing to death on a rural 10k. This is a great race and, despite the whether, is good fun. A very fast course so that even middle age plodders like me can feel pretty speedy - especially with the glorious downhill finish. Date of review: May 29, 2007

In short: Had a smile on my face ever since finishingIn full: A brilliant day. My first FLM and although I still ache - 3 days later - I wouldn't like to think it was my last. It was tough and hot but what an atmosphere. The crowd were incredibly supportive all the way around. I found things fairly ok until Canary Wharf. It seemed to be really warm there - must be something to do with all that concrete and glass in the buildings reflecting heat. Coming out of the Docklands it was difficult but this was where the crowds came into their own. Miles 20 - 22 were tough going and I was walking through the water stations trying to get enough fluid down - but starting running again got progressively more difficult. I found some reserves of energy from somewhere for the last section but my feet were burning and my thighs hurting to death. But it was like the crowd looked after me and pushed me in a type of relay from one section to the next. I ran for Macmillan and at their cheering point on 23 miles a large group were chanting my name - when else will that happen? By 25 my legs were saying 'finish this as soon as possible matey' while my mind wanted time to take it all in. On the tube afterwards people were offering me a seat - quite remarkable for London. A truly memorable day and by far my best experience as a runner. Date of review: April 25, 2007

In short: A good workout - mentally and physicallyIn full: For me this was a good work out for the FLM. I liked the laps - except for the last one and it was a good exercise in mind over matter - particularly as the fast runners started overlapping me at the end of my third lap - this made the start of the fourth lap into the wind rather a challenge. I really liked the Soviet era medal thing as well.Date of review: March 21, 2007